Report Title:

Troops to Teachers; Alternative Teacher Certification; DOE

 

Description:

Requires the Hawaii teacher standards board to develop alternative certification standards to enable military and Coast Guard personnel, veterans, reserve component personnel, and Department of Defense and Department of Energy civilian employees the board deems qualified to become teachers.

 

THE SENATE

S.B. NO.

818

TWENTY-FIRST LEGISLATURE, 2001

 

STATE OF HAWAII

 


 

A BILL FOR AN ACT

 

relating to education.

 

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF HAWAII:

SECTION 1. (a) Military and Coast Guard personnel, veterans, reserve component personnel, and Department of Defense and Department of Energy civilian employees who were separated not earlier than October 1, 1990, may apply to the department of education for alternative teacher certification, and for referral and placement assistance to Hawaii public schools; provided that military and Coast Guard personnel, veterans, and reserve component personnel must have served not less than six years, and civilian employees must have not less than five years of federal service.

(b) Military and Coast Guard personnel, veterans, reserve component personnel, and Department of Defense and Department of Energy civilian employees interested in academic teaching positions shall have a bachelor's degree from a college or university that is accredited by an accrediting agency recognized by the Secretary of Education. Individuals interested in teaching vocational subjects, such as electronics, computer, and construction trades, shall not be required to have a college degree to apply for alternative teacher certification, and referral and placement assistance, but shall be required to document their skill level or expertise.

SECTION 2. Section 302A-802, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended to read as follows:

"[[]§302A-802[]] Licensing and credentialing standards. (a) The board shall establish licensing and credentialing standards that govern teacher licensing and credentialing within the department. Licensing and credentialing standards established by the board shall be adopted as rules under chapter 91.

(b) In the development of its standards, the board shall consider the existing teacher applicant pool that is available in the State and the level of the qualifications of these applicants, as well as the nature and availability of existing pre-service higher education teacher training programs. The board shall also consider alternative certification, such as national teacher examinations, and credentials that certify competency in subject areas or programs taught in the public schools.

(c) The board shall develop alternative certification standards to enable military and Coast Guard personnel, veterans, reserve component personnel, and Department of Defense and Department of Energy civilian employees the board deems qualified to become teachers in Hawaii public schools."

SECTION 3. There is appropriated out of the general revenues of the State of Hawaii the sum of $ , or so much thereof as may be necessary for fiscal year 2001-2002, and the sum of $ , or so much thereof as may be necessary for fiscal year 2002-2003, to assist qualified military and Coast Guard personnel, veterans, reserve component personnel, and Department of Defense and Department of Energy civilian employees in becoming teachers in Hawaii public schools.

SECTION 4. The sums appropriated shall be expended by the department of education for the purposes of this Act.

SECTION 5. Statutory material to be repealed is bracketed and stricken. New statutory material is underscored.

SECTION 6. This Act shall take effect on July 1, 2001.

INTRODUCED BY:

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